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ARS Home » Southeast Area » Oxford, Mississippi » Natural Products Utilization Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #337814
Research Project: Health-Promoting Bioactives and Biobased Pesticides from Medicinal and Herbal Crops

Location: Natural Products Utilization Research

Title: Effects of pterostilbene in brown adipose tissue from obese rats

Author
item AGUIRRE, LEIXURI - University Of Basque Country
item MILTON-LASKIBAR, INAKI - University Of Basque Country
item HIJONA, ELIZABETH - University Of Basque Country
item BUJANDA, LUIS - University Of Basque Country
item Rimando, Agnes
item POETILLO, MARIA - University Of Basque Country

Submitted to: Journal of Physiology and Biochemistry
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/16/2017
Publication Date: 2/27/2017
Citation: Aguirre, L., Milton-Laskibar, I., Hijona, E., Bujanda, L., Rimando, A.M., Poetillo, M.P. 2017. Effects of pterostilbene in brown adipose tissue from obese rats. Journal of Physiology and Biochemistry. 73(3):457-464. doi:10.1007/s13105-017-0556-2.

Interpretive Summary: We studied the effect of pterostilbene, a phenolic compound found in some berries, on markers related to production of body heat in genetic model of obese rats, which show reduced body heat. Increase in heat through metabolic stimulation increases energy expenditure. This study included 3 groups: control and two groups orally administered with pterostilbene at 15 and 30 mg/kg body weight/day for 6 weeks. Gene expression of genes relevant to heat production and enzyme activity of two enzymes: one involved in fatty acid synthesis and the other in fatty acid breakdown were assessed in brown adipose tissue. Pterostilbene significantly increased the expression genes assessed, with the exception of one gene involved in the regulation of energy metabolism. This study shows that pterostilbene increases capacity to produce body heat and oxidative capacity of brown adipose tissue in obese rats. Whether these effects effectively contribute to the anti-obesity property of pterostilbene needs further research.

Technical Abstract: In recent years much attention has been paid by the scientific community to phenolic compounds as active biomolecules naturally present in foods. Pterostilbene is a resveratrol dimethylether derivative which shows higher bioavailability. The aim of the present study was to analyze the effect of pterostilbene on brown adipose tissue thermogenic markers in a model of genetic obesity, which shows reduced thermogenesis. The experiment was conducted with thirty Zucker (fa/fa) rats that were distributed in 3 experimental groups: control and two groups orally administered with pterostilbene at 15 and 30 mg/kg body weight/day for 6 weeks. Gene expression of Ucp1, Pgc-1a, Cpt1b, Ppara, Nfr1 and Cox-2, protein expression of UCP1 and GLUT4, and enzyme activity of carnitine palmitoyl transferase 1b and citrate synthase were assessed in interscapular brown adipose tissue. With the exception of Pgc-1a expression all these parameters were significantly increased by pterostilbene administration. These results show for the first time that pterostilbene increases thermogenic and oxidative capacity of brown adipose tissue in obese rats. Whether these effects effectively contribute to the anti-obesity properties of these compound needs further research.